Sewershed Surveillance Project Shows Increases Levels of SARS-CoV-2 in Albany

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Sewershed Surveillance Project has shown a significant increase or elevation in genetic material associated with COVID-19 in Albany.

Correlations show the significant increase in viral load followed 4 to 6 days later with an increase of at least 25 percent in positive human cases in a majority of instances.

The December 5th reading at the Albany collection center is at 280,000, which is down from late November, but is significantly higher than the 32,000 reading at the first of November. The highest reading at the Albany location was in late November 2020 when reading hit 759,000.

Areas around the state were the Sewershed Surveillance Project shows increases include Chillicothe, Liberty, St. Joseph and several areas in the southern part of the state.

The Sewershed Surveillance Project tracks viral genetic material in wastewater to show the emergence of viruses in communities.